The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented a honorary Oscars to actress Cicely Tyson last night at the Academy's 10th annual Governors Awards at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood and Highland Center.

Tyson, who was nominated for an Academy Award as best lead actress in 1973's Sounder, has starred in such films as The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, The River Niger, Fried Green Tomatoes, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, The Help, Alex Cross and Last Flag Flying was supported by members of the black hollywood elite like Oprah Winfrey, Shonda Rhimes, John Singleton and Ava Duvernay who presented her with the hard.

In her acceptance speech Tyson pays tribute to her late trusted friend and confidante Arthur Mitchell who was Tyson's escort 45 years ago in 1973 when Tyson was nominated for an academy award for her role in "Sounder" Tyson was heartbroken when she learned of Mitchell's death as he often spoke wealth and power over her life like any good friend promising her she would get an academy award. Well she finally did except this time he was with her in spirit.